uriopenminds - Jamestown School Spring 2011

Jamestown Schools:Melrose and Lawn A School Community Partnership external image melrose2.jpg

Melrose School (Preschool-Grade 4) Lawn School (Grade 5- Grade 8)Mission Statement: The Jamestown School Department, in partnership with the community, provides a respectful environment that challenges each child to fulfill his/her unique potential, and to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to become active and engaged 21st century learners and citizens. external image kinder7.jpg

IntroductionThe Jamestown Schools are located in the town of Jamestown in Newport County, Rhode Island. Residing in Narragansett Bay, Jamestown is almost entirely situated on Conanicut Island. About an hour from Rhode Island's capital, Providence, and minutes from Historic Newport, there are many beautiful attractions and reasons why Jamestown is a comfortable and inviting place to live. One of these reasons is the quality education provided for children in preschool through grade 8. Because of the small permanent residential population of Jamestown (5,405), there are only two public schools (early childhood through middle school education).There is a uniqueness and close knit community in the Jamestown Public School System because of the small population. High school students in Jamestown looking to pursue a public school education, are required to go to North Kingston High School (about a 15 minute drive). The principal of Melrose School is Carole Melucci and Katheleen Almanzor is the principal of Lawn School. Both websites are kept up to date, with current photos posted of the students along with their lunch schedule, activities/work done by the students, and easy to find contact informatin for every teacher employed. The purpose of this Context Statement is to provide the necessary and most helpful information regarding the Jamestown Schools, Melrose and Lawn, and Community for parents living in or deciding to move to Jamestown, Rhode Island. Choosing a safe area with a quality education for their children are both very important factors to consider before settling in a location to raise a family. Hopefully with the research and work I put into this statement, parents will be able to decide if the Jamestown School System is a right fit for their family.Community BackgroundJamestown as a whole is an extremely wealthy community. The average household income for Jamestown is $78,380 compared to Rhode Island's at $55,273 and the United States at $51,425; there is a significant difference between Jamestown's household income and Rhode Island's/United States'. The median family income in Jamestown is $83,482, which is higher than Rhode Island ($71,037) and the United States ($62,363). As well, Jamestown has a much higher per capita income ($44,281) compared to Rhode Island ($28,638) and The United States ($27,041). These numbers show that poverty is not a huge issue in Jamestown, as opposed to many other towns in Rhode Island and the country itself. In Jamestown, there are very few families below the poverty line (4.0%) comparatively to Rhode Island's (8.1%) and The United States' (9.9%). Individuals below poverty line in Jamestown (5.2%) is less than half of Rhode Island's (11.6%) and the United State's (13.5%). Jamestown's ethnicity population is lacking diversity; the percentage of white individuals (93.5%) greatly out numbers any other race. There are only 2.8% of African Americans, .5% of Asians, and 1.0% of Hispanics. The white population in both Rhode Island (82.8%) and the United States (74.5%) is less than Jamestown's. As for the other ethnicities, Rhode Island has 5.5% African Americans, 11.4% Hispanics, and 2.7% of Asians. The United States has 12.4% of African Americans, 15.1% of Hispanics, and 4.4% of Asians. (Information found on Fact Finder: Census).
Income/Poverty Data Table

	Jamestown	Rhode Island	US
Median household income	$78,380	$55,569	$51,425
Median family income	$83,482	$71,037	$62,363
Per capita income	$44,281	$28,638	$27,041
Families below poverty level	4.0%	8.1%	9.9%
Individuals below poverty level	5.2%	11.6%	13.5%

Race/Ethnicity Data Table

	Jamestown	Rhode Island	US
White	93.5%	82.8%	74.5%
Black/African Americans	2.8%	5.5%	12.4%
Hispanic	1.0%	11.4%	15.1%
Asian	.5%	2.7%	4.4%

As for child information in the community of Jamestown, there is only a small population of children (1,238) in this town that make up Rhode Island's child population (247,822). There are half of children living in single-parent families (15%) of Rhode Island's percentage (30%). Children living in families below the federal poverty threshold is 1.4% as opposed to Rhode Island's at 16.9%. Surprisingly, there are zero children who have grandparents that are financially responsible for them, but in Rhode Island there is 7.3%. (Information found on RI Kids Count)
Children Population/Household Data Table

Jamestown (2000)

Rhode Island (2000)

Child Population

1,238

247,822

Children in single-parent families

15%

30%

Children living in families below the federal poverty threshold

1.4%

16.9%

Household with grandparents financially responsible
For grandchildren

0.0%

7.3%

District SummaryThe New England Assessment Program Testing (NECAP) is administered yearly to children in the Rhode Island Public School System in grades 3,4,5, and 8 for the subjects science, math, writing, and reading. After viewing results of the NECAP testing for 2010, it can be concluded that The Jamestown School District has high performing students overall. Their NECAP testing was completed with a much higher proficiency than Rhode Island's in every subject. For example, the results for 4th graders in Jamestown in math is a 77% proficiency but Rhode Island's is only 63%. Reading for Jamestown is an 82% proficiency compared to Rhode Island's at 68%. Lastly, Jamestown 4th graders have a 71% rate in science whereas Rhode Island only has a 44% proficiency rate. This goes for the older students, the 8th graders who tested in math, reading, writing, and science. Math (82%) was significantly higher than Rhode Island's proficiency rate (54%). Reading (93%), writing (94%), and science (47%) were also much higher than Rhode Island's math (54%), reading (74%), writing (61%), and science (22%) proficiency rates. (Information found on Infoworks)The Jamestown District's great performance and high proficiency rates on the NECAP testing, most likely is resulted from the quality teachers and staff Jamestown employs. There is a 1:7 student teacher ratio, which gives each student constant attention and provides a better learning environment. In the state of Rhode Island, there is a 1:11 student teacher ratio. A small student to teacher ratio is essential for quality learning and education. Also, Jamestown does not have any Non Highly Qualified teachers (teachers without a bachelor's degree, state certification, and demonstrate their subject matter competency). The fact that Jamestown does not have any hired of these teachers proves the quality of the staff. (Information found on Inforworks)Due to the low percentage of poverty in the Jamestown District, only 5% of students are eligible for subsidized lunch (much lower than Rhode Island's at 43%). There is also only 1% of students receiving ESL or bilingual services, but statewide there is 5% of students. Students receiving special education services are about even at 15% for Jamestown and 16% for Rhode Island. The Jamestown District per student Expenditure is $16,148.48. (Information found on Infoworks) graph_(3).jpg

School AnalysisSince Melrose and Lawn are the only public schools (besides North Kingston High School) that are a part of the Jamestown School District, I decided to compare them to other schools in the neighboring island of Newport. William J. Underwood School is an elementary school (grades k-4). This is another high performing school, however when comparing both 4th grade NECAP scores Melrose has a much higher proficiency. In math, Melrose is a 77% proficiency, and Underwood is only a 52%. For reading, Melrose has a 82% rate whereas Underwood has 66%. As for science, Melrose has 71% and Underwood only has 43%. The middle school in Newport, Frank E. Thompson (grades 5-8) when compared to Lawn is not as proficient. The 8th graders are Lawn have much higher math (82%), reading (93%), writing (94%), and science (47%) proficiencies than Thompson's math (46%), reading (69%), writing (59%), and science (16%). Through the comparison of NECAP testing research, it confirms how great the Jamestown Public School System is. The teachers work closely with the students and as a result, they have some of the highest scores in the state. Their quality work reflects the success of the students.All schools being compared have a low student teacher ratio (Newport 1:9, Jamestown 1:7). However, Jamestown has no not highly qualified teachers, but Newport has 4% hired in their schools. These are definitely factors that can influence the performance of schools. ConclusionBased upon the information and research put into this context statement to inform the parents of perspective Jamestown School students, Jamestown is an excellent choice for both, education and community. It is a high performing schoolReferencesJamestown: Interesting & Useful Information. (2005, September 24). Retrieved from http://jamestown-ri.info/RI kids count indicators of child's well-being, 2010. (2010, April 10).
Retrieved April 27, 2011, from RI Kids Count database.http://rikidscount.orgStatewide Student Achievement Data. (2010). Retrieved April 27, 2011. http://infoworks.ride.ri.gov/Town of Jamestown, RI. (2011, April 27). Retrieved from http://www.jamestownri.net/U.S. Census Bureau Fact Sheet. (2005-2009). Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://factfinder.census.gov